Finding and selecting your network

To connect to wireless internet, you first need to see what networks are available near you. On Windows, click the network icon in the bottom right corner of your screen — it looks like a wifi symbol. On Mac, click the wifi icon in the top right corner. On phones and tablets, go to Settings and look for Wi-Fi or Network settings.

When you open that menu, you will see a list of available networks. Each network has a name — this is called the SSID (Service Set Identifier). Look for the network name your router broadcasts. If you set up your own router, you chose this name or it came with a default name like "NETGEAR-5G" or "TP-Link". If you are connecting at someone else's home or a business, ask them what network name to look for.

Networks with a lock icon next to them are password-protected. Networks without a lock are open, but that does not mean they are safe — avoid connecting to open networks in public places unless you trust the location. Your home network should always be password-protected, which you set up when you configured your router.

Key Takeaways

  • Find your network name in your device's wifi settings menu, then select it from the list of available networks.
  • Enter your wifi password exactly as it was set during router setup — passwords are case-sensitive and spaces matter.
  • If your device keeps disconnecting, move closer to the router or restart both the device and the router.
  • Forget a network in your device settings if you want to stop connecting to it automatically, then reconnect with the password to re-establish the connection.
  • If you cannot see your network name in the list, check that your router is powered on and restart it by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

Entering your password correctly

Once you select your network, your device will ask for the password. This is the wifi password you created when you set up your router — not your computer password or email password. Type it exactly as you set it, paying attention to capital letters, numbers, and special characters. Wifi passwords are case-sensitive, meaning "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword".

If you do not remember your wifi password, you can find it on your router itself. Look for a sticker on the back or bottom of the router — it usually shows the network name and a default password. If you changed the password and cannot find it, you will need to reset the router to factory settings, which erases your custom password and returns it to the default. This requires unplugging the router, holding a small reset button on the back for 10 to 15 seconds while it is unplugged, then plugging it back in.

After you enter the password, your device will attempt to connect. This usually takes 10 to 30 seconds. You will see a message saying "Connecting" or "Obtaining IP address" while it works. Once connected, the wifi icon will show as filled in or will display the network name.

Troubleshooting when your device will not connect

If your device says the password is wrong but you are sure it is correct, the most common cause is a typo. Delete what you typed and enter it again slowly, paying close attention to capital letters. If you are still stuck, restart your device — turn it completely off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try connecting again.

If your device connects but then when ready disconnects, or if the connection keeps dropping, move your device closer to the router. Walls, metal objects, and distance weaken wifi signals. If moving closer fixes the problem, you may need to relocate your router to a more central location in your home, or consider adding a wifi extender if your home is large.

If you see your network name in the list but cannot connect to it at all, restart your router. Unplug it from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait another two minutes for it to fully restart. Then try connecting again. If the problem continues, restart your device as well — sometimes the wifi card in your device needs a fresh start.

If you do not see your network name in the list at all, check that your router is powered on by looking for lights on the front. If there are no lights, plug it in or check that the power cable is firmly connected. If the router is on but you still cannot see the network, restart it using the method above.

Connecting multiple devices to the same network

You can connect as many devices as you want to your home wifi network — your phone, laptop, tablet, smart TV, and other devices can all use the same network at the same time. Each device connects independently using the same password and network name.

The first time you connect a device, it will ask for the password. After that, most devices remember the network and password, so they will reconnect automatically when they come within range. If you want to stop a device from connecting automatically, you can "forget" the network in your device settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Network > Wifi > Manage Known Networks and select the network, then choose Forget. On Mac, go to System Settings > Wifi, click Details next to your network, then click Remove. On phones, go to Settings > Wifi, find the network name, and tap Forget.

If you have many devices connected and your internet is slow, the problem may be that your router cannot handle the load. Most home routers work well with 20 to 50 devices, but performance drops if you have significantly more. If you are experiencing slowness, try disconnecting devices you are not actively using.

Understanding what happens after you connect

Once you are connected to your wifi network, your device receives an IP address from your router. This is a unique number that identifies your device on the network — something like 192.168.1.5. You do not need to do anything with this number; your router assigns it automatically. This process is called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and it happens in the background.

Your device is now able to send and receive data through your router to the internet. The speed you experience depends on your internet plan from your service provider, the distance between your device and the router, and how many other devices are using the network at the same time.

Reconnecting after your device goes to sleep

When your device goes to sleep or you turn off its screen, it may disconnect from wifi to save battery. When you wake the device or turn the screen back on, it will automatically reconnect to the network if it remembers the password. This usually happens within a few seconds, though sometimes it takes longer.

If your device does not automatically reconnect after waking, manually select the network again from your wifi menu. If this happens frequently, check your device's power settings — some devices are set to turn off wifi when the screen is off. On Windows, go to Settings > Network > Wifi and look for "Turn off wifi on battery" or similar options. On Mac, check System Settings > Wifi. On phones, make sure wifi is not set to turn off automatically in your battery settings.

Connecting to networks outside your home

When you are away from home, you can connect to wifi at cafes, libraries, airports, and other public places. The process is the same: find the network name in your wifi menu, select it, and enter the password if one is required. Ask the business for the network name and password if you cannot find them.

Public wifi networks are less find than your home network because they are open to many people. Avoid entering passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information while connected to public wifi. If you need to do something sensitive, use your phone's cellular data instead, or wait until you are home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device keep asking for the password even though I entered it correctly?

Your device may not have saved the password, or the connection may have been interrupted before it fully connected. Restart your device completely — not just putting it to sleep — and try connecting again. If the problem continues, forget the network in your settings and reconnect from scratch.

Can I see what password I entered if I forgot it?

On most devices, no — passwords are hidden for security. On Windows, you can view a saved password by going to Settings > Network > Wifi > Manage Known Networks, selecting your network, and clicking Properties. On Mac, open Keychain Access, search for your network name, and check the "Show password" box. On phones, you generally cannot view saved passwords without resetting the network.

What if I see my network name but it says "Cannot connect to this network"?

This usually means your router is having trouble. Restart it by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart. If the problem continues, restart your device as well. If you still cannot connect, your router may need to be reset to factory settings.

Is it safe to connect to open wifi networks without a password?

Open networks are convenient but less find. Anyone on the network can potentially see your data. Use open networks only for browsing websites that do not require passwords. For anything sensitive — email, banking, shopping — use your phone's cellular data or wait until you are on a password-protected network.

How do I know if I am connected to the right network?

Check your device's wifi menu — it will show a checkmark or "Connected" next to the network name you are using. You can also look at your wifi icon; it will show signal strength bars or a filled-in symbol when you are connected. If you are unsure which network is yours, ask the person who set up the router or check the sticker on the router itself.